Bible Studies/John the Baptist

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Expert: - 3/18/2004


Question
in matthew 14:10, why was John in prison in the first place?

Answer
This is answered earlier in Matthew 14:

Matt 14:3-4
3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
NKJV

and in Mark:

Mark 6:17-19
17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
NKJV

Why this was unawlful is a matter of history. Here is a quote from one source which explains it:

"Antipas had married the daughter of Aretas IV, King of the Nabataeans, as a political alliance. Later, when he tired of her, he had planned to do away with her. She discovered the plot and escaped to her homeland. The resulting war with an irate father, Aretas IV, cost Antipas his army.

His sister-in-law, Herodias, was now his wife, against Jewish law. She had left her husband, Herod Philip, the brother of Antipas. John the Baptist had publicaly come out against the union, and displeased Herodias. Antipas arrested John but resisted punishing him further. Herodias and her daughter, Salome, contrived a ruse to have Antipas render up the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
Source: http://www.ancientroute.com/people/Antipas.htm

So the reason was that John had condemned his act of adultery and he had taken revenge against John.

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Tom Smith

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I am able to answer a wide range of questions regarding orthodox Christian theology as well as those of many of the more common cults and religious movements (inside and outside of the church). This includes Protestantism, Charismatic movement, New Apostolic Reformation, Strategic Prayer/Spiritual Warfare, Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Calvinism, Reformed Church, Baptist Church, Pentecostalism, and Oneness Pentecostalism. I have been a member of or have attended many of the above. I have studied the beliefs and literature of the remaining through a variety of means, including in most cases interacting with members and/or leaders in these organizations. I also maintain a significant library/resource of information on these movements and organizations.

Experience

I have been a lifelong student of the Bible. In addition, I have been saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and believe in the truth of God's Holy word in the Bible as the inerrant and infallible word of God. I have been a believer for over 43 years. Other qualifications include:

- Former member of the counril of a local church
- Speaker at the "Last Days Bible Conference" and other functions.
- Researcher into religious movements and cults (maintain website with information on some of these movements and cults)
- Member of the Apologetics Coordination Team

I hold to the view that the Bible is inerrant and infallible, and I belief that the Bible is our sole authority on matters of faith and doctrine (Sola Scripture, Sola Fide).

Organizations
Apologetics Coordination Team (http://op.50megs.com/act/) Network of Christian Apologists in Calgary (http://www.whyjesus.ca)

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Website, accessible by means of http://discern.ca or http://www.religioninfo.org; and Audio files of talks at Last Days Bible Conference available at http://ldbc.ca

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Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)

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